Synthetic and computational evaluation of regiodivergent epoxide opening for diol and polyol synthesis

Abstract

In a combined synthetic and computational study, the factors governing the selectivity of the titanocene(III)-catalyzed regiodivergent epoxide opening (REO) with Kagan's complex via electron transfer leading to derivatives of 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-diols were investigated. In this manner, valuable building blocks for the synthesis of 1,3- and 1,4-diols were identified. The computational study provides crucial structural features and energies of the transition states of ring opening that are important for the design of more selective catalysts.

Keywords: catalysis; density functional calculations; enantioselectivity; epoxides; radicals.